Welded bolster construction



i Aug. 27, 1957 W, G, BQESE 2,804,024

WELDED BoLsTER CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2o, 1955 5 sneaks-sheet 1 ifi i ii!" ,JOL ai MIMI! Aug. 27, 1957 Filed May 2O,V 1953 W. G. BOESE WELDED BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 27, 1957 w. G. BoEsE WELDED BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 am Gloe'c?.

Filed May 20. .1953l Aug 27, 1957 w. G. BoEsE WELDED BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 2o. 195s M62@ www 67 Aug. 27, 1957 w. G. Bor-:SE 2,804,024

WELDED oLsTER CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2o. 195s 5 sheets-sheet 5 .im-.wmv

United States Patent O WELDED BOLSTER CNSTRUCTION William G. Boese, Michigan City, Ind., assignor tn PuiiJ mau-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application May 20, 1953, Serial No. 356,29@ 19 claims. (ci. 10s-22s) The present invention relates to bolster construction, and more particularly to railway car welded bolster construction which minimizes bolster failure.

In the disclosed application of the invention, the Welded bolster construction is illustrated and described as providing generally a bloster with a top plate extending over and welded to a center sill and the webs of bolster halves which are Welded at the inner ends of the webs and bottom plates thereof to the center sill. The present invention provides a bolster in which failure at the most critical point or portion, the connection of the bolster to the center sill, is greatly minimized. This is accomplished by constructing the bolster by welding the components to each other to form subassemblies and to the center sill to form the completed bolster in a manner and sequence allowing freedom to the parts to shift under the influence of shrinkage of subsequent welds without development of unduly stressed weld connections and deliberately im posing compressive stress on the welded connections of the bolster webs and bottom plates with the center sill by shrinkage of the welds of the bottom plates to the sill. Impacts on the center sill in service are transmitted to each bolster and by the bolster to the side sills and other car underframe members, resulting in tensile and compressive stresses in the bolster and its center sill connections, of which the tensile stresses are the more serious in tending to tear the parts away from each other and thus disrupt the welds. The compressive stress in the welded bolster-to-sill connections requires that before such tensile forces can have a dsruptive effect on these welded connections they must overcome the initial compression in the connections, only tensile stress in excess of that required to neutralize the compressive stress being available to tension the bolster and connections. It is important that complete Weld penetration of the webs is achieved in making the connections thereof to the center sill, so that no tensile streeses are set up in the connections, and to assure this result the inner end edges of the webs are formed with slight projections by which they are spaced suiciently from the sill to allow and in fact require complete penertation in welding. p

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved bolster construction affording compressively stressed connections of a bolster to a center sill so that tensile forces acting on such connections relieve compression before becoming effective to apply tensionthereto.

Another object is the provision of improved bolster construction in which the bolster components are welded to each other and to a center sill in such order that the stresses due to weld shrinkage are utilized to preload the connections of the bolster to the center sill compressively so as to better sustain forces acting in tension.

Another object is the provision of improved bolster construction in which bolster bottom plates are welded to a center sill so as to apply compressive forces to the welded connections of the bolster webs and bottom plates with the center sill byshrinkage of the bottom plate welds.

Another object of the invention is the provision of ICC improved bolster construction in which the bolster webs are provided with slight projections on at least the inner end edges to space the web edges from surfaces abutted thereby so that complete weld penetration `of the Webs at such edges may be obtained to produce properly fused connections free of tensile stresses arising from weld shrinkage.

Another object is the provision of improved bolster construction in which the bolster webs are Aprovided with slight projections on the inner end edges for spacing thereby from the sides of a center sill so as to be completely penetrated upon welding to the sill sides and have welded connections to the sides free of tensile stress due to weld shrinkage and in which shrinkage of later applied weld connections between the bottom plates and center sill subjects the web and bottom plate connections with the center sill to compressive stress.

Another object is the provision of improved bolster construction in which the connections of the floor stringers to the top plate are such as to avoid stress raiser notches at the highly stressed edge portions of the plate.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved method of constructing a railway car welded bolster by which the bolster components are welded to each other and to the center sill in such sequence as to tend to be drawn inwardly, in general, by the shrinking `action of the welds.

Another object is the provision of an improved method of welding arailway car bolster by which the connections of the bolster to the center sill are preloaded in compression so as to require tensile forces on the connections to overcome the compressive load before becoming effective to tension the connections. t

Another object is the provision of an improved method of Welding bolsters by which compression is applied to the connections of the bolster webs and bolster bottom plates with the center sill by shrinkage of the bottom plate welds. f

Another object is the provision of an improved method of welding holsters by which slight projections are provided on at least the inner end edges of the bolster webs for spacing from surfaces abutted thereby to assure complete weld penetration and consequent properly fused connections with substantially internal neutral load conditions.

Another object is the provision of an improved method of welding holsters by which bolster half subassemblies are welded by the inner bolster webs to the center sill with the outer ends offset relative to the inner ends to allow drawing of the outer ends into proper alignment and application of compressive stress to the welded connections of the subassemblies and center sill by shrinkage of welds joining the bottom plates to the center sill.

lt is another object to provide an improved method of welding bolsters in which the sequence of welds between bolster components and the center sill leaves outer parts free to be drawn inwardly by shrinkage of subsequent welds.

Still another object is the provision of a bolster filler construction cooperating with the bolster to reduce the possibilities of failure.

A further object is the provision of cooperating bolster yfiller and rear draft lug bracing structures by which failure adjacent the bolster and center sill connections is `m-inimized.

Other and further objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a bolster bottom plate and a pair of webs thereon for forming a bolster half subassembly;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l but showing a side bearing stiifener in position between the webs;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the stiffener welded to the bottom plate;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3, but with the bottom plate and webs rotated about a longitudinal axis to positions substantially 45 to the horizontal;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the incomplete subassembly in the tilted or rotated position, taken as indicated by the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, with an outer portion of the bottom plate horizontal;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 but with an inner portion of the bottom plate horizontal;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pair of the subassernblies attached to a center sill, in inverted horizontal position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the subassemblies and center sill in a rotated position with the subassemblies disposed vertically;

Fig. 9 is a plan View of one of the subassemblies attached to the center sill, right side up;

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary plan View in inverted position of the center sill and subassemblies with a bolster top plate and floor stringers attached;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the bolster and center sill, right side up, with floor Stringer connection plates welded in place;

Fig. 12 is a cross section through the center sill taken substantially as indicated by the line 12;-12 of Fig. 11, with the inboard transverse filler plate removed; and

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal Vertical sectional View taken substantiallyas indicated by the line 13-ll3 of Fig. ll.

Referring to Fig. l, there is shown a bolster bottom plate 2t) bent intermediate its ends to dispose an inner portion 2l thereof at a slight angle to the adjacent outer portion 22. The extreme outer marginal portion 23 of the plate may also be angled slightly to the portion 22, as shown, but so little that for practical purposes it may be considered substantially coplanar therewith as far as the present disclosure is concerned. The bends in the bottom plate appear in the elevational and perspective views of Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive. A pair of bolster webs 24 are also shown, each web having a lower edge conforming to the angularity of the bottom plate 2@ and having a rounded cutout or notch 25 therein adjacent the inner end of the web. The web is somewhat longer than the plate, and the notch is located so as to extend over the inner end edge of the bottom plate upon assembly. The upper edge of the web is straight, and adjacent the juncture of the upper and inner edges, or in other words at the upper inner corner of the web, there is provided an open aperture or slot 26, shown as of generally keyhole shape. The outer end of each web may be formed with a ange 27 for attachment to a side sill as hereinafter explained. Spaced along the inner end edge of the web are slight projections 23, of approximately 1/32 height in the present instance; and in certain cases, as where the web is formed of a high-strength, light-weight steel, similar projections are preferably provided on the upper edge of the web, as indicated in dotted lines at 28a, and also along the lower edge.

The welded bolster construction of the invention is perhaps best explainable by a step-by-step description of an illustrative manner or method of construction. As shown in Fig. l, the bottom plate is disposed in a substantially horizontal position and the webs are arranged perpendicularly thereto, these parts being secured in the desired relation by means of a suitable jig or the like. Each web 24 isV then tack-weldedfto the bottom plate7 along its inner face, by three tack-welds 29 spaced along the length thereof, and then by a permanent weld 3@ along its inner face adjacent the outer margin of the inner bottom plate portion 2l., corresponding to the location of a side bearing brace or stiifener 31. The stiffener is formed of a steel plate bent to a general channel shape, as appears from Figs. 2, 4, and 5, with the corners at its open side suitably cut away to accommodate the welds 35B. As will appear from Fig. 2, the stiffener 31 is then disposed closed side up on the bottom plate and each end is secured to the inner face of one of the webs 24 by a tack weld 32. Then the side edges of the stiffener are welded to the bottom plate as at 33. Thereupon the bottom plate with the webs and stiffener secured thereon is placed in a tilted position with one side edge higher than the other, preferably at an angle of 45 to the horizontal as shown in Fig. 4, so that the webs are at the same angle but of course perpendicular to the plate 20. The upper faces of the respective webs thus form convenient troughs with the bottom plate facilitating the welding of their lower edges to the bottom plate. The bottoms of thetroughs along the outerportion 22vof the bottom plate, or in other words the lines of juncture of the lower web edges with the outer portion 22, are disposed substantially horizontally. The lower end of the stiiener 31 is connected to the inner face of the lower web by a weld 34 preferably continuous along the entire stiifener end edge. The outer face of the upper web is welded to the outer portion 22 and marginal portion 23 by a weld 35, starting at the bend of the plate 20 between the inner and outer portions and continuing to the outer end of the plate and web, and the inner face of the lower web is welded to the bottom plate portions 22 and 23 by a relatively short weld 36 beginning a few inches inwardly of the outer end at a point along the outer portion 22 and continuing to the outer end, preferably through one of the tack welds 29. The bottom plate and webs are then shifted to bring the lines of juncture of the webs with the inner portion 21 of the plate into substantially horizontal position with the parts in the 45 tilted or rotated position about a longitudinal axis, and the outer face of the upper web is welded to the inner portion by a weld 37, from the notch 25 to and merging with the inner end of the weld 35, and the inner face of the lower web is secured to the inner portion 21 by a weld 38 starting at the notch 25 and continuing a few inches toward the outer portion 22, preferably fusing another of the tack welds 29.

The attached members are then shifted to a position rotated or tilted substantially about the longitudinal axis from the first tilted position, or in other words are turned reversely from the original rotated position so as to dispose the bottom plate 20 and webs 24 each 45 above the horizontal with the lines of juncture of the webs and the outer portion 22 of the bottom plate substantially horizontal. The previously lower web is thus disposed uppermost, with its outer face directed upwardly, and the previously upper web becomes the lower, with its inner face directed upwardly. The now lower end edge of the stiffener 31 is welded to the inner face of the lower web by a weld 34, and the outer face of the upper web is secured by a weld 35 to the outer portion 22 from the inner portion to the outer end, while a weld Sois formed along the inner face of the lower web from a point along the outer portion 22 to the outer end, all as described in connection with the irst tilted position. The attached bolster components are then disposed, still in the second tilted position, with the lines of juncture of the webs with the inner bolster portion 21 horizontal, and the weld 37 formed to connect the outer face of the upper web to the inner portion fromthe notch 25 to the outer portion, merging with the inner end of the weld 35. The inner face of the lower web is secured to the inner portion 21 by the weld 38 extending from the notch a short distance toward the stitfener 31. The stiffener and webs are thus in the'second tilted position welded in the same relation as in the first, their positions being changed or reversed by 90. The outer ends of the welds 35 and 36 on the opposite faces of each web are then connected by a short weld, best shown in Fig. 1l, extending around the web and, which is cut away adjacent the bottom plate to accommodate this tying or connecting weld. This completesa bolter half subassembly, comprising the bottom plate 20, webs 24, stitener 31, which may be handled as a unit for application to a center sill for forming the complete bolster.

It is to be noted that all of the welds securing the webs to the bottom plate are made in a direction from the inner end toward the outer end, except for the tying welds, and that the outer portions are welded before the innerportion welds are formed. In this manner, the tendency of the parts to become subject to internal weld stresses, by being drawn in one direction or the other relative to each other by the inevitable shrinkage of the welds, is avoided or at least largely minimized. The horizontal disposition of the lines of juncture between the webs and bottom plate along which welds are formed is of course advantageous in obtaining uniform penetration and strong welds.

For each bolster, as shown in Fig. 7, a pair of the bolster half subassemblies are inverted and disposed on opposite sides of a center sill 40, also arranged in inver-ted position, of the common channel form provided by two Z members having inwardly directed flanges joined by a center seam weld 41 to form the top of the sill and outwardly directed flanges 42 at the open bottom of the sill. The center sill is provided at each bolster location with a bolster filler, best shown in Figs. 7, 12, and 13, which comprises a center pin socket structure 43 formed by suitable plate members in any desired manner to extend upwardly from a bottom filler plate 44 welded horizontally between the inner faces of the sides of the center sill, and transverse filler plates 45 and 46 normal to the center sill sides and bottom ller plate and welded thereto. The transverse plates are spaced apart longitudinally of the center sill a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the webs 24 of each subassembly, and the inboard one of the transverse filler plates, designated 45, may be substantially rectangular. The outboard filler plate 46 has the upper portions of its side edges cut away or olset inwardly, as indicated at 47, so as to provide an opening at each side of the center sill adjacent the top when secured in place within the center sill. Also secured in the center sill 40 are a pair of rear draft lugs 48 of any desired form welded to opposite sides and to the top of the sill outboard of the outboard transverse tillter plate 46. A plurality of horizontally arranged bracing ribs, in this case four ribs, 49, 59, 51, and 52, are Welded to the inboard sides of each lug and to the adjacent center sill side in vertically spaced relation to extend inboardly from the lugs along the inner faces of the sill sides. The uppermost rib 49 at each side extends through the opening provided at that side by the cutaway portion 47 of the outboard ller plate i 46 and into the space between the liller plates 45 and 46, andthe next lower rib 5t), which is the greatest in section and length of the ribs, also extends into the space within the bolster filler structure, terminating just short of the inboard filler plate 45. The two lower ribs 51 and 52 terminate short of the outboard plate 46. A stron grear draft lug bracing structure is thus provided, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 10 to 13, with which the bolster ller construction cooperates for distribution through the center sill and bolster of cushioned impacts transmitted through the draft lugs, so that concentration of resulting stresses is avoided and possibility of failure is minimized. The lug bracing ribs are proportioned and located substantially as shown and described in order to best sustain impact shocks at the levels at which they normally occur. Besides cooperating with the bracing rib construction, the bolster filler structure coacts with the outer bolster portions in resisting the disruptive elect of stresses on the bolster, particularly the tensile acting on the bolster connections to the center sill, so as to minimize further the possibility of bolster failure.

The bolster subassemblies are disposed with the projections 2S on the inner web ends engaging the sides of 6 the center sill, the inboard and outboard webs being substantially aligned with the inboard and outboard ller plates 45 and 46 respectively, and the outer ends of the subassemblies offset slightly, a fraction of an inch, from the inner ends in the direction of the top of the center sill, which in the inverted position of course requires that they extend below the level of Ithe inner ends. A sole plate 53 of substantially the same width as the bottom plates 20 and of a length greater than the width of the center sill is disposed over the open bottom of the sill i and the bolster liller structure with its end portions lapping the inner portions 21 of the bottom plates, these end portions being bent at an angle to the central portion so as to lie flat on the bottom plate portions 21. The end edges of the sole plate are preferably formed with parts extending at an angle outwardly from the side edges to a central end edge part, as shown. A. center bearing plate 54 of common form is disposed on the central portion of the sole plate, and is provided with suitable holes for riveting to the sole plate, center sill anges 42, and bottom tller plate 44, which are formed with corresponding rivet holes. On the bottom plates 2t), outwardly of the ends of the sole plate 53 and over the stieners 31, are disposed side bearing filler plates 55, and side bearing wedges 56 are located on the plates 55. The plates 55 and wedges 56 are suiciently long to extend beyond the planes of lthe webs and are formed with rivetrholes for securement to the side edge portions of the bottom plates outwardly of the webs. Corresponding holes, not shown, are provided in the bottom plates. The several parts are held in the desired relation by suitable jig means or the like. The inner ends of the Webs 24 are secured to the sides of the center sill by tack welds 57, and then the i sole plate is welded to the bottom faces of the center sill flanges 4Z by welds 58 each starting on the ange and continuing to the sole plate edge, along that edge outwardly toward the toe of the flange, and then away from the plate edge along the flange surface. The center bearing plate 54 is then tack-welded to the sole plate, as shown for instance at 59, and the side bearing llers 55 are taekwelded to the bottom plates 20 as at 60 and the wedges 56 secured to the llers 55 by tack-welds 61. It will be understood that either before, at, or after the step in the bolster construction just described and represented in Fig. 7, other underframe members may be attached to and `assembled with the center sill.

The assembled parts are released from the jig or like means and the center sill and attached subassernblies rotated from the horizontal inverted position so that the webs are vertical and the sides of the center sill in horizontal position, one of the subassemblies extending upwardly and the other downwardly, as shown in Fig. 8.

The inner edges of the webs of the upper subassembly are.

welded to the adjacent side of the center sill, welds being applied on both sides of the webs, and then the center sill and subassemblies are brought to a position rotated from the previous position so that the previously depending subassembly extends upwardly from the center sill, whereupon both sides of each web of this subassembly are welded to the sill side. In each case, the welding of the web sides is from the lower web edge at the adjacent center sill flange toward the upper edge, and preferably the inner sides are welded first, a weld 63 being formed along the inner face of the inboard web, then a weld 64 along the inner face of the outboard web, both welds 63 and 64 typically terminating short of the keyhole slots 26 in short tails extending toward the opposite web. Then the outer faces of the webs are welded to the center sill side by welds 65 each of which extends around the tongue ot the web adjacent the sill side defined by the inner web edge and the slot 26 to fuse with the weld 63 or 64, as the case may be. It will be noted that up to this point the bolster half subassemblies are secured to the center sill only by the tack welds 57 which become incorporated in the permanent welds 65, and are free to space42 7 move into rrnly engaged position on the anges 42 as the welds 63, 64, and 65 shrink longitudinally, rather than moving in the opposite direction to allow the upper web edges to project beyond the plane of the center sill top surface, as might occur if the welds were run in the other direction. ln this welding, the projections 2d are burnt away and melted, the inner end edges of the webs 24 moving downwardly into contact with the center sill side. The projections initially space the webs from the sill sides so that in welding a complete penetration of the webs is certain, which well might not be the case if the weld rod contact were into a closed corner angle between the web and sill side. Thus there is no interior plane of the web left between the welds on the opposite faces to abut the sill side and cause tensional stress when tbe web is drawn toward the sill upon shrinkage of the welds. Instead, the entire inner end of the web is intimately fused with the center sill side and the weld shrinkage draws the web and sill side together into a substantially neutral internal stress condition. The initial spacing of the web end edges from the center sill by the projections permits of inward drawing of the webs and also avoids excessive movement of the webs inwardly toward the center sill, some of the movement resulting from weld shrinkage being taken up in closing the slight gap provided by the projections. As well shown in Fig. 8, a portion of the center seam weld 4l of the center sill 40 is ground away to provide a substantially smooth and `dat top surface on the sill over which a top plate may lie in close contact, the gap left by the grinding away of the portion of weld il above the top of the center sill being preferably somewhat greater than the extent of the top plate.

After the webs 24 of both subassemblies have been welded to the center sill as just explained, the center sill and subassemblies are brought to a substantially horizontal, right-side-up position and the inner end edges of the bottom plates are welded to the toes of the center sill flanges d2, as illustrated for one subassembly in Fig. 9. An intermediate portion of the end edge of the bottom plate, between the webs 2li, is rst secured to the adjacent tlange 42 by a heavy, multi-pass weld 66 terminating an inch orso inwardly of each web, and then the remaining portions Aof the bottom plate edge are welded also by multi-pass welds 67 even heavier than the intermediate weld 66 which extend from the opposite ends of that weld outwardly beyond the webs to the side edges of the bottom plate, through the notches 25 which span the slight gap between the bottom plate and flange and allow the projection of a weld rod therethrough. The sole plate 53 is also welded at the portions underlying the gaps to the bottom plates and sill flanges. The heavy rwelds 66 and 67 in shrinking transversely exert great force on the bottom plates and also on the webs Zd, drawing them inwardly toward the center sill and imposing a very considerable compressive stress on the connections of these members with the center sill, while at the same time drawing the outer ends of the subassemblies downward into alignment with the inner ends thereof so that the upper edges of the webs lie in the plane of the top of the center sill. As already mentioned and as eX- plained more fully hereinafter, this preloading of the subassembly connections to the center sill in compression is an important factor in reducing the possibility of failure of the bolster and prolonging the normal useful life thereof. Then the center sill and subassemblies are turned upside down and the end edges of the sole plate 53 are welded to the bottom faces of the inner portions 21 of the bottom plates by welds 63. Each weld 65 preferably starts adjacent but not on the side edge of the bottom plate, so as not to cause a stress raiser notch or section, and continues along the angled edge part of the sole plate end to the central part, where it combines with another weld 63 running from adjacent the opposite side edge of the bottom plate, as shown in Fig. 10. The

welds 68 in shrinking impose additional compressive stress on the connections of the bolster subassemblies to the center sill to augment the effect of the welds 66 and 67. It will be noted not only that the welds do and 67 as well as the welds 68 tend to draw inwardly the parts outwardly thereof, but that such outer parts are free to move in response to the drawing action without being stressed because of any connections thereof to fixed members of the underframe or the like. This does not prevent the connection of side sills to the outer bolster ends prior to the permanent welding of the inner bolster ends to the center sill, since such members will yield to inward movement of the bolster members without materially affecting the desired compressional preloading, and their prior attachment may be advantageous in squaring and rigidifying the underframe. In the present instance, however, the application of side sills is disclosed as postponed to a later stage in the fabrication of the underframe. A side sill reinforcement 69 in the form of an angle member is shown in Fig. 9 as riveted to the web end anges 27, although its application may be either earlier or later and by means other than rivets.

After the formation of the welds d8, the center sill and subassemblies are disposed in the inverted position, as shown in Fig. l0, on an inverted top plate 711i which is secured by a suitable jig or clamps to the center sill and subassemblies for Welding. The top plate 7d has a dimension between its outer ends sufficient to extend from the outer end of one subassernbly to the outer end of the other over the center sill, and adjacent its ends is of substantially the same width as the bottom plates 2h. At its center, the top plate is considerably wider than at its ends. In the present instance, the outboard edge of the top plate is straight, but the inboard edge is formed with a pair of smooth curves 7l each extending from a point between one end and the central part inboardly to a central straight edge portion 72 (Fig. ll) overlying the center sill and parallel to the outboard edge. The top plate is disposed with the widest part thereof, that between the outboard edge and the inboard edge portion 72, engaging the top surface of the center sill at the flat portion between the ends of the gap ground in the center seam weld il as previously explained in connection with Fig. 7. The top plate is then welded to the sides of the center sill by welds 74 extending from within the webs 24 through the open slots 26 outwardly beyond the webs, as best seen in Figs. l0 and l2, but preferably not to the edges of the top plate. Then the top plate is welded to the upper edges of the webs 2d by welds i5 extending continuously along the outer web faces from the slots 25 to the outer ends, the welds starting at the slots, and by welds 76 along the inner faces of the webs from points a few inches within the outer ends outwardly to the outer ends. Floor stringers 77 extending parallel to the center sill are provided, in the form of Z-bars which are to have one flange substantially flush with the upper face of the top plate 70. vAdjacent the top plate, the ends of the stringers are offset by substantially the top plate thickness to lie against the bottom face, and the otfset ends are secured to the under surface of the top plate adjacent the outboard and inboard edges, inwardly of the edges, by welds 78. This prevents undue localized stresses at the edges and avoids stress raisers which might result from welding the stringers directly to or at the top plate edges. The avoidance of such stress-producing factors is particularly important at the curved edge portions 7l, which are subjected to great stress in center sill impacts, especially tensile stress when the adjacent end of the center sill is driven inboard. Side sills 7?? shown applied to the bolster in Figs. l0 and 11,'although as already stated they may be attached at some other time during the construction of the underframe of which the center sill and holsters are parts. The side sills in this instance are formed by angle members, one flange of which is riveted over the top plate with the other flange extending upwardly. The vertical ange of the side sill reinforcement at each end of the bolster may be welded to the lower face of the horizontal ange of the side sill, which extends directly thereabove.`

The bolster and center sill are then turned right side up and the inner end portions of the lower edges of the webs 24, between the notches 25 and the end edges, are welded to the top faces of the center sill flanges.' The welds 80 connecting these portions of the lower web edges to the flanges are made outwardly from the center sill side along the outer faces of the webs to the notches. The top portion of the center weld seam 41 removed in the smoothing of the center sill top surface is then rewelded or restored between the ends of the gap therein and the top plate edges adjacent thereto, by welds 81, as shown in Fig. 11. Care is taken not to notch the edges of the top plate in making these welds. Then a Weld 82 is made on each side of the center seam weld and clear thereof, at both the inboard and outboard edges of the top plate. Each of these four welds is started on the top face of the center sill a slight distance from the adjacent top plate edge, run to that edge and continued along it, then tailed off in a direction away from the plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 11. Then a short upward vertical weld indicated at 83 is made at the outer end of each of the welds 67 from the top face of the sole plate 53 to connect the sole plate, bottom plate 20, and flange 42 and assure that no incipient crack exists between the ends of several passes of any of the welds 67. This substantially completes the construction of the bolster proper and its connection to the center sill.

The stringers 77 nearest the outer ends of the holsters are connected to the adjacent straight edge portions of the top plate by welds 84 extending on the upper faces of the downwardly offset end portions of these stringers and the edges of the top plate. The other stringers are joined to the upper face of the top plate 70, particularly along the curved edge portions 71, by generally trapezoidal connection plates 85 extending over the top plate and the upper faces of the stringers so as to bridge over fthe top plate edges. The edge of each connection plate 85 on the top plate inwardly of the top plate edge is secured by a weld 86, and its opposite edge is secured to the upper face of the Stringer by a weld 87. Localization of stresses along the critical edge portions of the top plate is avoided by means of the connection plates 85 so as to reduce the chances of failure of the bolster. A final connecting weld is made about the outer end of each web 24 along the top plate to join the outer ends of the welds 75 and 76.

While the invention has been disclosed as employing a top plate extending from end to end of the bolster over the center sill, it will be clear that a pair of top plates abutting the center sill sides at their inner ends may be used, one for each half of the bolster, without departing from the principles of the invention. Similarly, many other of the bolster components may be changed from the precise form or relation disclosed, and the exact sequence and manner of welding or other application of the several parts may also be varied considerably, the invention not being limited to all the details of the illustrative disclosure.

The bolster filler and draft lugbracing` construction enhances the resistance ofthe center sill connections of the bolster to failure by providing for distribution of impact stresses interiorly of the bolster along the center sill sides without direct connection to the transverse ller plates and consequent transmission of such stresses thereto. The ller plates thus are not subjected `to any bending stress by forces acting longitudinally of the center sill and their electiveness as continuations of the bolster webs acting in compression and tension is not reduced and failure of their connections to the center sill is practically eliminated. The weld connections of the webs to the center sill are preferably substantially unstressed initially,

f objectionable.

10 this condition being achieved by reason of the projections, although an initial compressive stress would not be The compression of these welds and of the bottom plate welds to the center sill is accomplished later by shrinkage of the latter welds, and serves to counteract the tension applied to the connections by irnpacts on the center sill, to the extent that the compressive stress is not exceeded by the tensile stress, so that the 'level of tensile stress eifectively acting on the connections is much lower than would otherwise be the case. Disruptive forces on the weld connections of the top plate to the center sill are slight, since unlike the webs and bottom plates the top plate is not in the form of two members abutting opposite sides of the center sill and having edges connected thereto by welds across which act tensile forces tending to spread apart the connected parts. Instead, the top plate extends from end to end of the bolster over the center sill, and itself resists disruption by tensile forces, for which it is well adapted by the provision of the Wide central portion defined by the curved inboard edge portions. The connections of the top plate to the center sill thus are subjected almost solely to stresses acting longitudinally of the sill. The projections on the upper and lower edges of the webs may be employed when the bolster is made of certain high-strength, light-weight steels having great resistance to compression, acting in such case to space the parts slightly from each other so that upon shrinkage of the welds therebetween the drawing together of the parts does not result in undesirable stresses.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of constructing a railway car body bolster having a top plate extending over a smoothed portion of the center sill top surface weld seam, bottom plates `with angularly related inner and outer portions, and webs each with a lower edge conforming to the angularity of the bottom plates having a notch adjacent the inner end to extend over the inner end edge of a bottom plate with an open slot at the upper inner corner and slight spaced projections on Vat least one of the inner, "lower, and upper edges, which comprises tack-welding a pair of substantially parallel webs perpendicularly on a` bottom plate and also permanely welding the inner web faces to the Ibottom plate at a `side .bearing stiffener location, welding a stilfener at its opposite sides to the bottom plate at said location, then tilting the bottom plate transversely and -with the lines of juncture of said webs and outer bottom plate portion substantially horizontal `welding the lower end of the stiifener to the lower of the webs and welding to thc bottom plate the outer face of the upper web along said line of juncture thereof and the lower web along its inner face from a point on its said line of juncture to the outer end, shifting the bottom plate and webs while in said transversely tilted position to dispose the lines of juncture of `the webs and said inner bottom plate portion substantially horizontal and welding to the Ibottom plate the outer face of the upper `web 4from said notch to said outer portion weld and the inner face of the lower web from ysaid notch to a point along said inner portion, thereafter reversing the tilt of the bottom plate and webs to dispose the previously lower web uppermost and first with the lines of juncture of the webs and outer portion and then with the l-ines of juncture of the 4webs and inner portion substantially horizontal welding the other stiffener end edge to the lower web and the lower edges of the Webs to the bottom plate in t'he same relation as in the previous tilted position, then 4welding the webs to the bottom plate aboutv `the outer web ends to connect the adjacent welds along the inner and outer web faces to complete a bolster half subassembly, disposing ya pair of inverted bolster half subassern-blies on lopposite sides of an inverted center sill of channel section having outwardly directed iianges at its open bottom. with the webs substantially aligned with a pair of transverse ibolster filler plates preassernbled in the center sill and the inner web `ends engaging the center sill sides and the outer ends or' the subassemblies slightly below the level of the inner ends and tack-welding the webs to the center sill sides, disposing the bolster half subassemblies attached to the center sill in vertically aligned position and welding the inner ends `of the webs of the upper subassembly to the adjacent side of the center sill rst along the inner faces and then along the outer faces thereof and through said slots, ythen reversing the vertical disposition of the `subassemblies to place the other subassembly uppermost and welding both sides of the inner web ends thereof to the other side of the center sill in the same relation as the web ends of the previously upper subassembly, then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies right side up and welding to the center sill ilanges the inner bottom plate edges, then disposing the center sill subassembl-ies upside `down on an inverted top plate with the smoothed top surface portion of the center siil engaging the top plate and welding to the bottom plates the end edges of the sole plate and then welding the top plate to the sides of the center sill from between the webs outwardly through said open slots and welding the top plate to the outer -faces of the webs from the center sill to the outer ends an-d to the inner `web faces outwardly from an inner point to the outer ends, thereafter disposing the center sill and 'bolster right side up and ywelding the lower web edges to the center sill flanges from the inner ends to said notches and re-welding the smoothed center sill top surface weld seam to the front and rear edges of the top plate and ywelding the edges of the top plate to the top of the center sill on opposite ysides of the weld seam, welding the inner corners of the 'bottom plate to the center sill flanges upwardly, and connect-ing the outer ends of the weld between the top plate and inner and outer faces of the webs by welding about the outer ends of the webs.

2. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having a top plate extending over the center sill top surface, bottom plates with angularly related inner and outer portions, and webs each with a lower edge conforming to the angularity of the bottom plates having a notch therein adjacent the inner end to extend over the bottom plate inner edge and with an open slot at the inner upper corner and siight spaced projections on the inner end edge, which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by temporarily securing a pair of webs vertically in parallel relation on a substantially horizontally disposed bottom plate, then tilting the bottom plate transversely and first with the lines of juncture of the webs and said outer lbottom plate portion horizontal welding to the 'bottom plate the upper web along its outer face `from said inner portion to the outer end and the lower web along its inner face from a point along said outer portion to the outer end and then with the lines of juncture between the webs and said inner portion substantially horizontal welding to the bottom plate the upper web along its outer face from adjacent said notch to said outer portion weld and the lower web `along its inner face from adjacent said notch to a point along said inner portion, thereafter reversing the tilt of the bottom plate and webs to dispose the previously lower web uppermost and rst with the lines of juncture of the Iwebs and outer bottom plate portion and then with the lines of juncture of the webs and said inner portion substantially horizontal welding the lower edges of the webs to the bottom plate in the same relation as in the previous tilted position, then `disposing a pair of inverted holsters half subassemblies on o-pposite sides of an inverted center sill of channel section having outwardly directed ilanges at its open side with the corresponding webs of the opposite subassemblies aligned transversely of the center sill and the inner web edge projections engaging the center sill sides and with the outer ends of the subassemblies slightly below the level of the inner ends and tacking the webs to the center sill A12 sides, disposing the bolster half subassemblies attached to the center sill in vertically aligned position and welding both sides of the inner -ends of the webs of the upper subassembly to the adjacent center sill side, then reversing the vertical disposition of the subassemblies to place the other `subassernbly uppermost and welding both `sides of the inner ends of the webs of said other subassembly to the other center sill side, then disposing the center sill and subassemblies ri-ght side up and welding the inner edges of the bottom plates to the center sill ilanges, then disposing the center 'sill and attached subassemblies upside down on an inverted top plate and welding the top plate to the `sides o-f the center sill outwardly from between the webs through said open slots f' and wel-ding the top plate to the outer faces of the webs from the center sill outwardly to the outer ends and to the inner faces of the webs adjacent Ithe outer ends, thereafter dispos-ing the center sill and bolster right side up and welding the lower edges of the webs to the center sill flanges from the inner ends to said notches and welding the front and rear edges of the top plate to the center sill on opposite sides of the weld seam thereof.,

3. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having a top plate extending over the center sill top surface, bottom plates with angularly related inner and outer portions, and webs each with a lower edge conforming to the angularity of the bottom plates having a not-ch therein adjacent the inner end to extend over the bottom plate inner edge `and with an open slot at the inner upper corner, which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by temporarily securing a pair of Iwebs Ivertically in parallel relation on a bottom plate, then tilting the bottom plate transversely and first with the lines of juncture of the webs and said `outer bottom plate portion horizontal welding to the bottom plate the upper web along its outer face from said inner portion to the `outer end and the lower web along its inner face from a point along the outer portion to the outer end and then with the lines of juncture of the webs and said inner portion substantially horizontal welding to the bottom plate the upper web along its outer face from adjacent said notch to said outer portion weld and the lower web along its inner face from adjacent said notch to a point along said inner portion, thereafter revers-ing the tilt of the bottom plate and Webs to dispose the previously lower web uppermost and first with the lines of juncture of the webs and outer bottom plate portion vand then with the lines of juncture of the Iwebs and inner bottom plate portion substantially horizontal welding the lower edges of the webs to the bottom plate in the `same relation as in the previous tilted position, then disposing a pair of compelted bolster half subassernblies on opposite sides `of a -center sill of channel section having .outwardly directed anges at its open -bottom with the corresponding webs of the opposite subassemblies aligned transversely of the center sill and temporarily securing the webs with vthe inner edges engaging the center sill sides and the ou-ter ends of the subassemblies slightly oiset from the inner ends in the direction of the top of the center sill, thereafter disposing the bolster half subassemblies attached to the center sill in vertically aligned position and welding both sides of the inner ends of the webs of the upper subassembly to the adjacent side of the center sill, then reversing the vertical disposition .of the subassemblies to place the other subassembly uppermost and welding both sides of the inner web end edges to the other centersill side, then disposing the center sill and `subassemblies right side up and Welding the inner edges of the bottom plates to the center sill flanges, through said notches, then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies upside down on an inverted top plate and welding the top lplate to the sides of the center sill outwardly from between the Webs through said open slots and'also welding the top plate to the outer faces of the webs from the center lsill to the outer ends and to the inner faces of the webs adjacent the outer ends, and thereafter disposing the center sill and bolster right side up and weld- -ing the lower edges of the Webs -to the center sill flanges from the inner ends to said notches and welding ,the front and rear edges of the top plate to the center sill.

4. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having a top plate extending over the center sill, bottom plates with angularly related inner and outer portions, and webs each with a lower edge conforming to the angularity of the bottom plates having a notch therein adjacent the inner end to extend over the bottom plate inner end edge and with an open slot at the inner upper corner and with spaced slight projections on its inner edge, which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by tack-welding a pair of parallel webs perpendicularly on a substantially horizontal bottom plate, then tilting the bottom plate transversely with one side higher than the other and Welding to the bottom plate the upper web along its inner face and the lower web along its outer face adjacent the outer end andadjacent said notch, thereafter reversing the tilt of the bottom plate and webs to dispose uppermost the previously lower web and welding the lower edges of the webs to the bottom plate in the same relation as in the previous tilted position to provide a bolster half subassembly, then disposing a pair of subassemblies upside down on opposite sides of an inverted center sill of channel section having outwardly directed anges at its open bottom with the corresponding webs aligned transversely of the center sill and the inner web edge projections engaging the center sill sides and temporarily securing the webs to the center sill and then disposing a sole plate over the center sill bottom lapping the inner bottom plate portions and welding the sole plate to the center sill ilanges, thereafter disposing the bolster half subassemblies temporarily secured to the center sill in vertically aligned position and welding both sides of the inner ends of the webs of the upper subassembly to the adjacent side of the center sill while obtaining cornplete weld penetration of the webs by reason of the spacing of the web inner ends from the center sill by said projections to effect intimately bonded connections substantially free of weld shrinkage stresses, then reversing the vertical disposition of the subassemblies to place the other subassembly uppermost and welding both sides of the inner web end edges to the other center sill side, then disposing the center sill and subassemblies right side up and welding to the center sill ilanges the inner edges of the bottom plates for the entire extent thereof through said notches to apply compressive stress to the web and bottom plate connections to the center sill upon shrinkage of said bottom plate inner edge welds, then disposing the center sill and subassemblies upside down on an inverted top plate and welding the ends of the sole plate to the bottom plates to apply additional compressive stress to said connections upon shrinkage of said sole plate welds and also welding the top plate to the center sill sides through said open slots and to the upper edges of the webs from the center sill to the outer ends along the outer web faces and adjacent the outer ends along the inner faces of the webs and to the top of the center sill.

5. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having bottom plates with angularly related inner and outer portions and webs each with a lower edge conforming to the angularity of the bottom plates having a notch therein adjacent the inner end and with an open Slot at the inner upper corner and slightspaced projections on at least one of the inner, upper, and lower edges, which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by temporarily securing a pair of webs in parallel relation perpendicularly to a bottom plate tilted transversely with one side edge higher than the other and while tirst maintaining the lines of juncture of the webs and said outer bottom plate portion substantially horizontal welding to the bottom plate the upper web along its outer face from 14 said inner portion to the outerend and the lower web along its inner face adjacent the outer end and then while maintaining the lines of juncture of the webs and the inner bottom plate `portion substantially horizontal welding to the bottom plate the upper web along its outer face from said notch to saidouter portion weld and the lower web along its inner face adjacent said notch, thereafter reversing the tilt of the bottom plate and webs to dispose uppermost the previously lower web and first with the lines of juncture of the webs and outer portion and then with the lines of juncture of the webs and inner portion substantially horizontal welding the lower edges of the webs to the bottom plate in the same relation as in the previous tilted position to provide a bolster half subassembly, then disposing one subassembly vertically on a channel section center sill having .outwardly directed ilanges at its open bottom and disposed horizontally with one side uppermost with the inner web ends engaging said one side of the center sill and the outer end of the subassembly offset slightly from the inner end in the direction of the top of the center sill and welding both sides of the inner web edges to said one center sill side, then rotating the center sill about its axis and bringing another subassembly to vertical position on its other side with the inner web ends engaging said other side and the webs vertically aligned with the webs of said one subassembly and the outer end offset similarly to that of said one subassembly and welding both sides of the inner web edges to said other center sill side, then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies rightside up and welding to the center sill flanges inner edge portions of the bottom plates between the webs and then the remaining portions of said inner edges outwardly to the side edges of the bottom plates through said notches, and then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies upside down and welding inverted top plate means to the sides of the center sill from between said webs outwardly through said open slots and to the outer faces of the webs from the center sill to the outer ends and to the inner faces of the webs adjacent the outer ends, the projections on the web edges spacing the edges from the sur` faces abutted thereby to assure complete weld penetration of the web and result in substantially unstressed welded connections upon weld shrinkage, and the outer ends of the bolster half subassemblies being drawn into alignment with the inner ends and the connections of the bolster subassemblies to the center sill being placed under compression by shrinkage of the weld connections of the inner bottom plate edges with the center sill ilanges.

6. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having bottom plates with angularly related inner and outer portions and webs each with a lower edge conforming to the angularity of the bottom plates, which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by temporarily securing a pair of webs in parallel relation perpendicularly to a bottom plate tilted transversely with one side edge higher than 4the other and welding to the bottom plate the upper web along its louter face and the lower web along its inner face adjacent the outer and inner ends thereof, thereafter reversing the tilt of the bottom plate and webs to dispose uppermost the preivously lower web and welding thelower edges of the webs to the bottom plate in the same relation as in the previous tilted position to provide a bolster half subassembly, then disposing one subassembly vertically on a center sill of channel section having outwardly directed flanges at its open bottom and disposed horizontally with one side uppermost with the inner webends engaging said one side and the outer end of the subassembly oifset slightly from the inner end in the direction of the top of the center sill and welding both sides of the inner web edges to the one center sill side, then rotating the center sill 180 about its axis together with said one subassembly and bringing another subassembly to vertical position above the other center sill side with the 15 inner web ends engagingrsaid other side and the webs vertically aligned with the webs of said one subassembly and the outer end offset similarly to that of said one subassembly and welding both sides of the inner web edges to said other center sill side, then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies right side up and welding the inner end edges of the bottom plates to the center sill flanges to draw the outer subassembly ends into alignment with the inner ends upon shrinkage of the welds, and then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies upside down and welding inverted top piate means to the sides of the center sill and to the webs along the outer faces thereof from the center sill to the outer ends and also along the inner faces of the webs adjacent the outer ends.

7. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having bottom plates with angularly related inner and outer portions and webs each with a lower edge conforming to the angularity of the bottom plates having a notch therein adjacent the inner end and with an open slot at the inner upper corner, which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by temporarily securing a pair of webs in parallel relation perpendicularly to a bottom plate tilted transversely with one side edge higher than the other and while rst maintaining the lines of juncture of the webs and said outer bottom plate portion substantially horizontal welding to the bottom plate the upper web along its outer face from said inner portion to the outer end and the lower web along its inner face adjacent the outer end and then while maintaing the lines of juncture of the webs and the inner bottom plate portion substantially horizontal welding to the bottom plate the upper web along its outer face from said notch to said outer portion weld and the lower web along its inner face adjacent said notch, thereafter reversing the tilt of the bottom plate and webs to dispose uppermost the previously lower web and rst with the lines of juncture of the webs and outer portion and then with the lines of juncture of the webs and inner portion subf stantially horizontal welding the lower edges of the webs to `the bottom plate in the same relation as in the previous tilted position to provide a bolster half subassembly, then disposing one subassembly vertically on a channel section center sill having outwardly directed ilanges at its open bottom and disposed horizontally with one side uppermost with the inner web ends engaging said one side. of the center sill and welding both sides of the inner web edges to said one center sill side, then rotat ing the center sill 180 about its axis together with said one subassembly and bringing another subassembly to position extending vertically upward from the other side of the center sill with the inner web ends engaging said other side and the webs vertically aligned with the webs of said one subassembly and welding both sides of the inner web edges to said other center sill side, then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies right side up and welding to the center sill tlanges inner edge portions of the bottom plates intermediate the webs and then the remaining inner edge portions outwardly from the intermediate portion welds through said notches to the bottom plate side edges, and then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies upside down and welding to the normally bottom faces of the inner bottom plate portions the ends of a sole plate and then welding inverted top plate means to the sides of the center sill from between said webs outwardly through said open slots and to the outer faces of the webs from the center sill to the outer ends and to the inner web faces adjacent the outer ends.

8. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having webs each having a notch in the lower edge thereof adjacent the inner end to extend over the inner end edge of a bottom plate, which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by weiding perpendicularly on a bottom plate a pair of parallel webs along the lower edges le i between said notches and the outer ends, disposing one subassembly vertically on a center sill of channel section having outwardly directed anges at its open bottom and disposed horizontally with one side uppermost with the inner ends of the webs engaging said one side and the outer end of theV subassembly otset slightly from the inner end in the direction of the top of the center sill and welding the inner web edges to the one center sill side, then turning the center sill about its axis together with the one subassembly and bringing ,another subassembly to vertical position above the other center sill side with the webs vertically aligned with the websof said one subassembly andthe outer end otset similarly to that of said ,one subassembly and welding the inner web edges to said other center sill side, then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies right side` up and welding the inner end edges of the bottom` plates to the center sill anges first along a portion intermediate the webs and then along the remaining portions from the intermediate portion weld outwardly through said notches to the bottom plate side edges to draw the outer subassembly `ends into alignment with the inner ends and place the web and bottom plate connections to the center sill under compression upon shrinkage of said bottom plate inner edge welds, and then welding top plate means to the center sill and webs.

9. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having webs each having spaced slight projections on the inner end edges, which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by welding perpendicularly on a bottom plate a pair of parallel webs along the lower edges thereof, disposing one subassembly vertically on acenter sill of channel section having outwardly directed anges at its open bottom and disposed horizontally with one side uppermost with the inner web end edge projections engaging said one side to space said inner edges therefrom toI assure complete penetration of the web upon welding and welding the inner web edges to the. one center sill side with complete penetration to allow inward movement of the webs for intimate bonding with the center sill without generation of stresses by weld shrinkage, then rotating the center sill 180 about itsv axis together with said one subassembly and bringing another subassembly to vertical position above the other center sill side with the webs vertically aligned with the webs of said one subassembly and the web edge projections engaging said other side and with the outer end otset similarly to that of said one subassembly and welding the inner web edges to said other center sill side, then disposing the center sill and attached subassemblies rig-ht side up and welding the inner end edges of the bottom plates to the center sill ilanges irst along a portion intermediate the websrand then along the remaining portions from the intermediate portion outwardly to the side edges of the bottom plates through said notches to draw the outer subassembly ends into alignment with the inner ends upon srinkage of the welds, and then welding top plate means to the center sill and attached webs. Y t t Y l0. The method of constructing a railway car bolster which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies each including a bottom plate with a pair of parallel webs welded thereon in perpendicular relation, then disposing first one and then the other of a pair of subassembliesin vertical position extending upwardly from a side of a center sill horizontally disposed with its top` face vertical and welding the inner edges of the webs of each subassembly while in said position tothe then upper side of the sill with the corresponding webs transversely aligned, thereafter disposing theV center sill and subassemblies right side upand welding theinner edges, of the bottom plates to the' center sill, Ithen disposing the center sill and subassemblies upside down and welding to the bottom plates the ends of a sole plate disposed over the center sill bottom and lapping the bottom plates,

soenna and then welding top plate means to the center sill and webs.

11. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having a top plate extending over the center sill, bottom plates with angularly related inner and outer portions, and webs each with a lower edge conforming to the bottom plate angularity having a notch adjacent the inner end to extend over the inner bottom plate end and with an open slot at the upper inner corner and spaced slight projections on at least one of the inner, lower, and upper edges, which comprises disposing a pair of parallel webs perpendicularly on a bottom plate and tack-welding the webs at spaced points tothe bottom plate and also welding the webs at the inner faces to the bottom plate at the side bearing stiffener location and also adjacent the outer end and adjacent said notch and welding the outer web faces to the bottom plate lirst along said outer portion from the inner portion to the outer ends and then along said inner portion from said notch to the outer portion and welding a stiffener to the bottom plate and webs at said location to form a bolster half subassembly, then tack-welding to opposite sides of a channel section center sill having outwardly extending flanges at its open bottom the inner ends of the webs of a pair of subassemblies to dispose the outer ends of the subassemblies slightly offset from the inner ends in the direction of the top of the center sill and welding to the center sill flanges a sole plate extending across the open bottom and lapping the inner portions of the bottom plates, then welding both sides of the inner ends of the webs to the center sill while obtaining complete weld penetration of the webs due to the spacing of the inner web edges from the center sill by said projections to effect intimately bonded connections free Vof stresses due to weld shrinkage, then welding the inner end edges of the bottom plates to the center sill flanges iirst at portions intermediate the webs and then at the remaining portions outwardly through said notches to the side edges of the bottom plates to apply compressive stress to the connections of the webs and bottom plates to the center sill by shrinkage of the bottom plate inner edge welds while drawing the outer subassembly ends into alignment with the inner ends, thereafter welding the ends of the sole plate to the inner portions of the bottom plates to apply additional compressive stress to said connections, and then welding a top cover plate to the sides of the center sill outwardly from between the webs through said open slots and to the outer faces of the webs from the center sill to the outer ends and to the inner web faces adjacent the outer ends and also to the top of the center sill.

l2. The method of constructing a railway car bolster which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by welding a pair of parallel webs perpendicularly on a bottom plate with the inner ends extending beyond the inner end of the bottom plate, temporarily securing to opposite sides of a center sill of channel section having outwardly extending llanges at its open bottom the inner ends of the webs of a pair of subassemblies to dispose the outer ends of the subassemblies slightly oset from the inner ends in the direction of the top of the center sill, thereafter welding both sides of the inner end edges of the webs to the center sill, then welding the inner end edges of the bottom plates to the center sill flanges to draw the outer subassembly ends into alignment with the inner ends and apply compressive stress to the welded connections of the webs and bottom plates to the center by shrinkage of the bottom plate inner edge welds, welding to the center sill flanges portions of the side edges of a sole plate extending across the open center sill bottom lapping the bottom plates and after said welding of the bottom plate inner edges to the center sill anges welding the ends of the sole plate to the bottom plates to apply additional compres- 18 sive stress to the welded connections ofI the Webs and bottom plates with the center sill, and then welding top plate means to the center sill and upper edges of the webs.

13. The method of constructing a railway car bolster having webs with spaced slight projections on the inner end edges thereof which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies by welding a pair of parallel webs perpendicularly on a bottom plate with the'inner ends extending beyond the inner end of the bottom plate, ternporarily securing to opposite sides of a center sill the v webs of a pair of subassemblies with the inner edges thereof spaced from the center sill by said projections, thereafter welding both sides of the inner end edges` of the webs to the center sill sides while obtaining complete weld penetration of the webs by means of said spacing for intimate welded connections substantially free of stress due to shrinkage of the welds, then Welding the inner edges of the bottom plates to the center sill, welding a` sole plate extending across the center sill lapping the bottom plates to the center sill and bottom plates, and welding top plate means to the center sill and upper edges of the webs.

14. The method of constructing a railway car bolster which comprises forming bolster half subassemblies each having a pair of bolster webs welded to a bottom plate, welding the inner ends of the Webs of a pair of subassemblies to opposite sides of a center sill with the outer subassembly ends slightly olfset from the inner ends in the direction of the center sill top, then welding the inner end edges of the bottom plates to the center sill to apply compressive stress to the connections of the webs and bottom plates with the center sill by shrinkage of the bottom plate inner edges welds while drawing the outer subassembly ends into alignment with the inner ends, and then welding top plate means to the center sill and upper edges of the webs.

15. The method of constructing a railway car bolster on a center sill of channel section with outwardly directed flanges at the open bottom and having a bolster filler structure at the bolster location, comprising welding a bolster filler in the center sill including transverse plates spaced longitudinally thereof and welded to the inner side faces with the outboard plate having corners cut away to provide openings adjacent the upper portions of the sides and also welding to the inner faces of the sides rear draft lugs outboard of the transverse plates and to the sides and lugs a plurality of vertically spaced substantially horizontal ribs certain of which extend through said openings, forming a bolster half subassembly separate from the center sill by welding to a bottom plate a pair of webs spaced apart substantially the.` same distance as said transverse plates, then welding the inner ends of the Webs of a pair of bolster half subassemblies to the center sill sides in substantial alignment with said transverse plates with the outer ends of the subassemblies slightly higher than the inner ends, then welding the inner end edges of the bottom plates to the center sill flanges to draw the outer ends into alignment with the inner ends and apply compressive stress to the welded connections of the webs and bottom plate inner edges with the center sill'by shrinkage of the bottom plate inner edge welds, and welding top plate means to the center sill and to the upper edges of the Webs.

16. A welded bolster construction comprising a center sill of channel section, bolster top and bottom plates welded to4 the center sill, two pairs of bolster webs welded to the top and bottom plates and to opposite sides of the center sill with the corresponding webs in alignment transversely'of the center sill, an inboard transverse bolster filler plate in the center sill substantially aligned with the inboard webs and welded to the top and sides of the sill, an outboard transverse bolster filler plate in the center sill welded to the top and sides of the sill substantially aligned with the outboard webs having inwardly oiiset upper side edge portions providing an opening into the space between the inboard and outboard plates at each side of the sill adjacent the top, a pair of rear draft lugs each welded to the inner face of one of the center sill sides outboard of said outboard plate, and four vertically spaced substantially horizontal bracing ribs welded to each lug and to the adjacent center sill side with the two upper ribs on each side extending through the opening at that side into the space between the inboard and outboard plates and terminating short of the inboard plate, the welded connections of said webs and bottoni plates to the center sill being compressively loaded by shrinkage of the welds between the bottom plates and center sill.

17. A welded bolster construction comprising a center sill of channel section, a pair lof bolster webs welded to each side of the center sill with the inboard and outboard webs of each pair respectively in alignment with the inboard and outboard webs of the other pair transversely of the sill, top and bottom plates welded to the webs and to the center sill, a rst filler plate in the center sill substantially aligned with the inboard webs and welded to the top and sides of the sill, a second filler plate in the center sill substantially aligned with the outboard webs and welded to the top and sides of the sill having the upper portions of its side edges otset inwardly of the lower side portions to provide an opening at each center sill side adjacent the top, a pair of rear draft lugs each welded to the inner face of one of the center sill sides outboard relative to said second plate, and a plurality of vertically spaced substantially horizontal bracing ribs welded to each side of the center sill and to the lug thereon, said ribs on each side including at least two extending along the side through the adjacent one of said openings into the space between said transverse plates.

18. A welded bolster iiller construction comprising a pair of ller plates disposed within a channel-section center sill extending between and welded to the inner faces of the center sillsides in longitudinally spaced relation, the outboard one of said iiller plates having upper-side edge portions cut away to provide openings adjacerittheV sides of the center sill into the space between the iiller plates, a pair of rear draft lugs each'welded to the inner face of one of the center sill sides outboard relative to said outboard filler plate, and a plurality of substantially horizontal and vertically spaced bracing ribs Welded to each of the lugs and the center sill side adjacent thereto, two of the ribs along each side extending through the adjacent one of said openings into the space between the filler plates.

19. A welded bolster filler construction comprising a pair of filler plates disposed transversely within a channelsection center sill spaced' longitudinally of the sill and extending between and welded to the inner faces of the sides of the sill, the outboard of said filler plates being formed to provide openings adjacent the sides of the sill into the space'between said iiller plates, a pair of rear draft lugs each welded tothe inner face of one of the center sill sides outboard relative to said outboard filler plate, and a plurality of vertically spaced substantially horizontal bracing ribs extending along said sides, at least certain of said ribs extending through said openings into the space between said ller plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,087,530 Potchen July 20, 1937 2,122,994 Southgate July 5, 1938 2,140,268 Moss Dec. 13, 1938 2,180,799 Cottrell et al Nov, 2l, 1939 2,184,337 Duryea Dec. 26, 1939 2,244,518 Dietrichson June 3, 1941 2,309,024 Tesseyman et al. Ian. 19, 1943 2,671,957 Sheifer etal Mar. 16, 1954 

